At the tone, leave your name and message. I'll get back to you.

The Rockford Files was a US detective drama TV series starring James Garner first broadcast by NBC September 1974 and January 1980. Garner portrayed Los Angeles–based private investigator Jim Rockford with Noah Beery Jr. in the supporting role of his father, Joseph Rockford, a retired truck driver nicknamed “Rocky”.
It was – in my opinion – one of the better US imports to be viewed on UK TV screens. I fact, I purchased the DVD set of the series.
The distinctive opener of the series was a mix of scenes overlaid with the soundtrack of the private eye’s answering machine message and numerous comical (black) replies that can be now be found online (http://wfc.myths.com/pub/humor/misc/rockford.html).
There is a problem of course with answer-phone machines – and the problem is shared by those who have opted for their telephone service provider to provide their voice-mail service – that unlike Jim Rockford’s callers, callers DO NOT tend to leave messages.
Well, the purpose of today’s BG post is to advise those readers who have the Editor’s land-line and/or mobile numbers that BOTH numbers have voice-mail options and IF I don’t answer, PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE!
As with Mr Rockford, Mr Rogers WILL get back to you!
This has now become more important as the two telephones on my land-line have both had their ring tones switched off. This means that IF you ring a LEDs on the phones will flash. IF I see the ‘phone flash, I will look at the number displayed and it appears genuine I will answer it. If not, it will be ignored. IF this happens to you, please accept my apologies and LEAVE A MESSAGE!
The reason why I am adopting this new strategy is because of the regular and frequent scam calls I am getting on my land-line. However, I refuse to cease using it and go onto a contract with my mobile supplier. I do not see why I have to change the way I wish to live my life because of fraudsters!
By the way, my mobile ‘phone is switched off most of the time. It is a “pay as you go” ‘phone and is for emergency and occasional use only.